Reading DeltaV charts....backwards?

[GalaxyGryphon]

Ok so im using kerbal engineer mod for the first time to make more advanced and accurate required fuel calculations...

what im trying to do in this example is find out how much m/s it takes to launch from the moon and get into orbit.

http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/w/images/7/73/KerbinDeltaVMap.png

can you use this and just read it backwards? or does this only work for starting off on kerbin?

if not, please elaborate on how to properly know how much deltaV is required from any starting point.

Edited December 19, 2013 by GalaxyGryphon

[Vanamonde]

To get from where you are to where you want to be, just add up the numbers in between. The order doesn't matter, except for landings/launches from worlds with atmospheres, where landing is dirt cheap and takeoffs are expensive.

[EatVacuum]

It takes a lot less fuel to get back to Kerbin from the Mun than it does to go out. Think of Kerbin being at the bottom of a big hole and the Mun being at the bottom of a smaller one. Maybe that's why they call them gravity wells?

And to increase the difference in delta vee, when you take off you're losing delta vee to air drag. But coming back air drag is your friend. It helps you shed velocity which saves you fuel you'd otherwise have to burn since you can aerobrake to slow down. The same may or may not be true for trips to the various planets depending on whether they are higher or lower than Kerbin in Kerbol's gravity well. First time you go to the Mun have double the delta vee you calculate that you need for a one way trip and you'll get back with fuel to spare. After that you'll know about how much to cut back for the next trip.